Hanoi & Halong Bay

Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel (check-in permitted after 2pm). Free day. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Visit to the city of Hanoi. Today Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, a unique Asian city with tree-lined avenues, French colonial architecture and oriental temples. The visit begins at Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed Vietnam's independence in 1945. In this complex we can see Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (exterior only) and Ho Chi Minh's house, a house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969 as president. Continue with a visit to the Single Pillar Pagoda, a temple built in 1049 by Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who reigned from 1028 to 1054, on a single pillar to represent a lotus flower. Although it was destroyed by French troops in 1954, it was later rebuilt and remains one of the symbols of Vietnam. Next, a visit to the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, and Quan Thanh, a Taoist pagoda from the 11th century, both located on Lake Tay. Finally, visit the Temple of Literature, the country's first university founded in 1076, dedicated to Confucius and which served for centuries as a teaching center and spiritual place. To this day, it is considered the symbol of Hanoi. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Ngoc Son Temple, located on an islet in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Afterwards, a walking tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter, also known as the quarter of 36 streets, formerly classified by the 36 guilds that were established here. During the tour we can see the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and local life, with narrow streets full of stores, workshops and street food stalls. In late afternoon, visit a café considered to be a hidden gem of Hanoi, where you can learn more about Vietnamese coffee and how to prepare a fabulous coffee with eggs (ca phe trung). Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure by road through the farmlands of the Red River Delta and landscapes of rice fields and Asian buffalo to discover the mythical Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and declared one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Arrive in Halong and board the "Junco", a traditional wooden boat. During the two-day cruise, the boat will sail through the emerald waters of the bay between the many limestone islets. Lunch on board. Activities in the afternoon. Dinner and accommodation on board.

Note: the cruise itinerary is subject to change without prior notice due to weather conditions.

On the way back to the port of Halong, enjoy a magnificent brunch. Arrival and return by road to Hanoi airport. Boarding formalities and departure on a flight to Portugal. Overnight on board.